Proverbes 18

1Celui qui se tient à l’écart ne cherche qu’à contenter sa passion, il s’irrite contre tout sage conseil.

2Ce n’est pas l’intelligence qui plaît à l’insensé, c’est la manifestation de ses pensées.

3Quand vient le méchant, vient aussi le mépris, et avec la honte vient l’opprobre.

4Les paroles de la bouche de l’homme sont des eaux profondes ; la source de la sagesse est un torrent qui déborde.

5Il n’est pas bon d’avoir égard à la personne du méchant, pour faire tort au juste dans le jugement.

6Les lèvres de l’insensé se mêlent aux querelles et sa bouche provoque les outrages.

7La bouche de l’insensé cause sa ruine, et ses lèvres sont un piège pour son âme.

8Les paroles du rapporteur sont des morceaux friands, elles descendent jusqu’au fond des entrailles.

9Celui qui est lâche dans son travail est frère de celui qui va à la perdition.

10Le nom de Yahweh est une tour forte ; le juste s’y réfugie et y est en sûreté.

11La fortune du riche est sa ville forte ; dans sa pensée, c’est une muraille élevée.

12Avant la ruine, le cœur de l’homme s’élève, mais l’humilité précède la gloire.

13Celui qui répond avant d’avoir écouté, c’est pour lui folie et confusion.

14L’esprit de l’homme le soutient dans la maladie mais l’esprit abattu, qui le relèvera ?

15Un cœur intelligent acquiert la science, et l’oreille des sages cherche la science.

16Le présent d’un homme lui élargit la voie, et l’introduit auprès des grands.

17Le premier qui expose sa cause paraît juste ; vient la partie adverse, et on examine le différend.

18Le sort fait cesser les contestations, et décide entre les puissants.

19Un frère ennemi de son frère résiste plus qu’une ville forte, et leurs querelles sont comme les verrous d’un palais.

20C’est du fruit de la bouche de l’homme que se nourrit son corps, du produit de ses lèvres qu’il se rassasie.

21La mort et la vie sont au pouvoir de la langue ; suivant son choix, on mangera ses fruits.

22Celui qui trouve une femme trouve le bonheur ; c’est une faveur qu’il a reçue de Yahweh.

23Le pauvre parle en suppliant, et le riche répond durement.

24L’homme aux nombreux amis les a pour sa perte, mais il est tel ami plus attaché qu’un frère.

1[Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.

2Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.

3Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.

4Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.

5Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.]

6[Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.

7Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.

8Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.

9Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.

10Turris fortissima nomen Domini; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.

11Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.

12Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.

13Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.

14Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?

15Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.]

16[Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.

17Justus prior est accusator sui: venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.

18Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.

19Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.

20De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.

21Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.

22Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.

23Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.

24Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.]

1He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

2A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

3The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

4Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.

5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

6The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

7The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

8The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

9He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

11The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

12Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

13He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

14The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

15A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

16A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.

17The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

18The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

19A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

20Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

22He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

23The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

24A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.